Mail-bag lock



(No Model() J. A. MARTIN.

MAIL BAG LOCK.

Patented Aug l/Ou UNITED STATES PATENT A OEEICE.

JAMES ANDREW MARTIN,OF HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA.

MAI L-BAG- vLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,958, `dated August 18, 1891. Application filed January 2l, 1891. Serial No. 378,601. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES ANDREW MAR- TIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hickory, in the county of Catawba and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Mail-Bag Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to improvements in mail-bag locks or fasteners; and the objects in view are to provide a lock especially adapted for closing and fastening the mouths of mail-bags throughout the entire length of the mouths,and to provide a cheap and simple means whereby all of the locks may be simultaneously operated to unfasten the bag.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is va side elevation of a mail-bag provided with a lock constructed in accordance with my invention, the plate of the lock being removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the latch-operating bar. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l denotes the bag, 1a the iiap, which is provided with a series of staples 2, inwardly disposed and located opposite a series of openings 3, formed in the opposite sides of the bag near its upper end or mouth, and through and beyond said openings the staples are designed to project.

A metal case 4 is secured to the exterior or outer Wall of the bag, which Wall carries the usual flap, and said case is provided with a series of openings 5, corresponding with and opposite to the openings 3 of the bag. At corresponding sides of each opening within the case are located keepers 6, and at the opposite side of each opening there is secured to the case an ordinary spring-latch 7, the boltS of which is designed to abut against the opposite keepers 6 and to pass through a corresponding staple 2. The bolts are each provided with the usual knobs l2 for withdrawing the same. At one end of the case 4 there is located a block 9, having an opening 10, for a purpose hereinafter specified.

11 designates alatch-operating plate or bar concaved upon the inner side and provided at intervals with key-hole slots, through the larger portions of which have been inserted the heads of the knobs 12, and the narrow portions of said slots embrace the .necks of the knobs. The large portion of the last keyhole slot occurs opposite the opening 10 in the block 9.

13 denotes the cover of the casing, formed of metal, fitting the casing and removably secured to the same by means of screws 14. At intervals the interior of the lid is provided with internal re-enforcing ribs 15, said ribs occurring opposite the spaces between the latches and serving to strengthen the lid against being crushed. The lid is also provided at one end with a key-hole 16, said keyhole registering With the perforation 10, heretofore mentioned.

ln operation the mouth of the bag is closed in the usual manner and the staples pressed through the openings until they have passed by and are engaged by the bolts of the latches. The bag is now locked securelyagainst opening, but may be opened or unlocked by inserting the key into the hole 16 and revolving the same. The large portion of the last key-hole slot of the series is eccentrically located with relation to the perforation 10 and the cylindrical portion of the hole 16, so that a partial turning of the key causes the blade of the same to act against the wall of the slot, and thus the bar 11 is reciprocated, as are also the bolts of the latches, by reason of the engagement of the bar With the knobs thereof. By my invention the bag maybe quickly and effectually locked and readily opened in a short period of time.

In actual practice it will of course be understood that all sharp and protruding corners will be avoided, and that the lid will be thickened by additional metal wherever desired. It Will also be understood that a lock of any construction may be applied for operating the bar.

Having described my invention, what I claim is* f 1. The combination, with the bag, the walls of the mouth of which are provided with a series of openings and the flap thereof with a corresponding series of inwardly-disposed staples, of a case secured to the exterior of that Wall carrying the flap, said case being provided with openings corresponding to those in the bag, a series of spring-latches se` cured to the case at the sides of the openings and provided with bolt-operating knobs, and a bar provided with openings for the reception of the knobs and engaging the same to operate them and mounted for reciprocation in the case, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the mail-bag having the opposite sides of its mouth provided with openings and the Hap provided with staples for passing through and beyond the openings, of a case having a removable lid secured to the exterior of that Wall of the bag carrying the iap and provided with openings corresponding therewith, a series of keepers located at one side of the openings within the case, and a series of spring-actuated latches, the bolts of which have heads and are secured to the opposite side of the openings, a block located at one end of the casing and having an opening for the inner end of the key, a reciprocating bar having' key-hole-shaped slots mounted over the knobs of the bolts, one of said slots terminating near and eecentrically located with relation to the opening in the block, and a key-hole formed in the removable lid of the case, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES ANDREV MARTIN.

TWitnesses:

K. C. MENzIEs, J. C. MARTIN. 

